Hocus Pocus, It's Fall!

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Leaves on trees

are green and bright

Abracadabra!

What a Sight!



Eleven gatefolds open to re-create the excitement and surprise of fall's arrival, revealing what happens when the leaves turn. Fall is a season of transition: apples are picked, and animals prepare for winter. Summer days are coming to an end, and there's a hint of winter in the air. Hocus Pocus, It's Fall! celebrates the magic of that in-between time.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

O'Brien and Gal maintain that there's something downright magical in the changing seasons in this follow-up to Abracadabra, It's Spring! Gentle rhymes-broken up by phrases like "Open sesame!" and "Razzle dazzle!"-highlight cooling temperatures, the donning of sweaters, migrating birds, and other autumnal standbys; lifting full-page flaps reveals the completed rhymes while underscoring the idea that something special has taken place. In one scene, two children stare out over a green forest from their tree house; lifting the flap reveals a landscape transformed by vibrant orange, scarlet, and golden foliage ("Leaves on trees are green and bright./ Abracadbra!/ What a sight!"). Gal's cozy mixed-media images feel simultaneously retro and contemporary, a subtle reminder that autumn's pleasures are evergreen (so to speak). Ages 3-5. Author's agent: Lara Perkins, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator's agency: Morgan Gaynin. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

PreS-A beautifully illustrated homage to all things autumnal. The gatefolds on each page open to reveal something magical about fall, like pumpkins transforming into jack-o'-lanterns. The simple, engaging text ("Pick a pumpkin,/orange and fat./Razzle dazzle!/Look at that!") is paired with Gal's layered charcoal on collage illustrations, which fill the pages with rich and appealing details. VERDICT Part of the series of seasonal picture books, this one is a great read-aloud for the preschool set. Recommended for purchase to enrich seasonal collections.-Sarah Wilsman, Bainbridge Library, Chagrin Falls, OH © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Horn Book Review

From the creators of Abracadabra, It's Spring! comes an homage to another season. Simple rhyming text incorporating magic words leads to gatefolds revealing fall's transformations: "Chipmunks dig / their burrows deep. / Sim sala bim! / They're fast asleep." Illustrated with richly colored charcoal and digital-collage art, this is a perfect choice for autumn storytimes. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.